Returnable shipping container



May 28, 1935. R. c. BENDER y RETURNABLE SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Sept. 29, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l TI El 4 K EEA/@EF INVENTOR.

May 28, 1935. R. c. BENDER RETURNABLE SHIPPING CONTANER Filed Sept. 29, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A? C. .BE/V051? TIE-5 Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES- RETURNABLE SHIPPING CONTAINER Robert C. Bender, Davenport, Iowa Appiication september 29,1934, serial No. '146,069

2 Claims.

My invention lhas reference to a returnable .Shipping container, and has to do more specially with certain improvementsvon an apparatus of that kind for which Letters latent of `the United cfs States were issued to myself August 14, 1934, numbered 1,970,413. The general Ifeatures of the device set forth in said former patent have been retained in thepresent invention, including a spaced ice receptacle and container therein for gcommodities, and the special advantages relating thereto. The chief purpose of` the `present invention is to increase the eiliciency and simplicity of the former device, and make structural changes therein which will add to theliie of the apparatu, and adapt the same more ttingly to with outer containers of various ltypes and :SlZQ: i

Y The general purposes and facilities which are set out the former patent are retainedin the present invention, such as the use `of inner and outer receptacles, with an icing space between; ,the vanchorage of the inner container to the bottom of the outer container, andthe suspension o f the upper part o f the rinner container `so as to permit a limited amount of lateral adjustment `gtliereef, to relieve any strain thatrnay beplaced thQlQIi. `The commodity in the inner .container ice on the outside thereof are also separated at all times, and the commodity refrigerated from 17913 11.0 bottom .ofsaid container.` Drainage iaciiities are also provided, 'and reference' had to the possibilitiesof use of lthe inner container 'only with sh `barrels which are specially .designed for v,use therewith, but with flour barrels, sugar barrels, and other barrels which were designed for other uses, but can be readily adapted v.to the purposes set `forth herein.

`011e .0f the features `,of `the present invention `consists the provision .of an inner .container the body portion of which is 'formed of canvas ,or similar iflexible material, which is removably connected with a metal bottom at its lower end and `with Suspension devices at its upper end. By this means, upon the body portion becoming lworn it ucan be discarded, and replaced by another `simi-lar container or bag. Y By this replacement arrangement the l-iie o f the apparatus can be greatly prolonged. t

In another modification of the .original device which is set forth herein, the inner container is `shown formed of metal throughout, of cylindrical form, with a bottom attached to its ylower end hand. a lid Afor its upper ,endfwhich are of similar conformation, .and 4.Which can be used interch'ngeablyby supplying the part to be used at the bottom with supporting feet and 'openings `for central attachment and drainage. ,Both the forms above mentioned have central attachment with the bottom of the outer connaiier, of a deachable character, so that they `g quickly removed therefrom or replaced, when de'- sired.

Other structural changes will be `found in both of the forms mentioned, which have to (lo ,l1 the anchorage o f the inner container at ,tliebv ttom, and the manner oi securing 'the saine at the top. The above named, and other features and aglvantages of the invention, tending to an 4ifn- Vcreased.efficiency and simplicity, and ease of operation thereof, will be more particularly pointed out in the ,following specification, reference Lheing had to the accompanying drawings, in whichz-l Fig. 1 is a vertical medial section of an appa- ,2p ratus which embodies th'iIiVntiQ, Fig. 2 is a cross-section onth broken Aline b2---2 of Fig.Y 1. y Fig. 3 is acrossf'soection on the lin'e 3`-,3 of Fig. 1. t Fig. 4 is a crosssection on the lline, with the` flexible top of the ,inner container inldthr position from that of E3.

Fie- 5 isa detail of one of the ifastehing's Shown in the icresoine Heuresf r so Fig. 6 :is a vertic l section of another ,form of the invention on the brokenline 5.-.16 of Iig. '1.

Fig. 7 is a complete cross-section on the Vline 1 1 of` Fie. V6. s

Fig. 8 is a detail of the bottomA l, in'plan view. 35

9 is a side view thereof. i i Fig. 1o shows the `ring is, detached, and without the chains I8.

Fig.f 1 1 is a crossssection on ,the line l'I--ll of Fig. 10. o Y i 4o `es:mentioned in said ``former patent, therllvention has to 4do .cheiiy with the transportat" nwof iish and other perishable property iiequiring refrigeration in transit,,as by ,an ice pack, ,and occasional renewal yof the ref rigerarl.t lOn longer hauls..

Referring first to the rst sheet of the drawings, the reference number l indicates an 4"outer container or barrel, povided with hoops Land a bottom 3, containing small perforations fjiorthe escape of water and other 4liquids iro tainer. Within said container is a con` k Vdrical bcdvpoiton .5. formed 0f heavy Ic sh or other commodity, consisting o or similar flexible material, the Alower .e 55

K container.

which is open, and fits snugly around the iiange of a dish-shaped bottom 5, and provided with small openings 6a for the escape of slime or other liquid matter from the inner container. Secured to the bag 5, near its lower end, are straps l of fabric, provided at their inner ends with loops 3, engaged with a harness square 9, surrounding a lock-nut IIJ between the bottom and bottom 3 of the outer container, and having a central opening through which passes a bolt ll. Said bolt also passes through openings in the bottom 6 and bottom 3, and is provided at its lower end with a nut I3. The nut I5 also acts as a spacer between the two bottoms, as well as serving to hold the bolt; from rotating while the nut I3 is being turned thereon. Washers I2 are interposed between the head of the bolt II and the bottom 5, one or more of which washers may be removed to adjust the length of the bolt to greater thickform the end links ofchains I8, which pass outwardly through openings i9 in the sides of the container I, and are secured in place by pins on the ends of said chains inserted in links in said chains, similarly to the showing in said former patent. The upper ends of the container 5 can 'thereby be properly positioned to provide a uniform amount of space between the saine and the outer container.

vThe space between the two containers is filled with' cracked ice, which also finds its way between the bottoms thereof, tending to the preservation of the contents of the container 5 entirely to the Vbottom thereof.

` The body portion of the container 5 is extended Y upwardly beyond the ring l5, and is adapted to be folded. downwardly into a pair of flaps 23, fastened by a lacing 2li, one end of which is secured toa link 25 i'lXed to one of said flaps. Other iiaps 26 are foldable transversely of the flaps 23,

andare connected by a lacing 2T, hitched to a link 28 on one' of ysaid flaps. The upper end of the 'cvontainer'is thus closed so that some of the ice can be filled in above the container with no vdanger of getting into same. When the ice has been filled in to the top of theouter container such top is closed by a suitable cover 29, held in Yplace by the upper hoop 2, which is removable for that purpose.

' The container is also shown provided with links 3 3, in the form vof harness-Ds, attached thereto by straps SI just below the ring I5. The

'chains I8 pass through said links, thereby assistuingin supporting the container 5 and its load, `and preventing the chains I8 from wearing or tearing the upper ends of the openings I7.

The fabric surrounding said openings can also be reinforced by rother pieces of fabric attached thereto.

If it is desired' to remove the inner container this can be quickly done by removing the nut I3,

and disconnecting the chains I3 from the outer It can be as quickly returned to its position. If it is desired to renew the body porltion of thecontainer 5 the container is removed as before mentioned, the ring I5 removed from lcover 34.

the upper end of said container by passing the chains I8 through the openings Il, and the bottom 8 lifted from the lower end of the body portion. A new fabric body is then provided and the bottom 6 and ring I5 re-installed therein.

This form of container is also collapsible upon being removed from the former container, and occupies a less amount of space in that condition.

On account of various kinds of barrels being .made use of for the outer container it is usually necessary torprovide such barrels with openings I9 for the passage of the chains i3. Said chains are of sufficient length to conform readily to the requirements of adjustment to provide a suitable and uniform spacing between the inner and outer containers.

In Figs. 6, and 'l of the drawings there is set out another form of the invention, wherein the number'SZ indicates the outer container, fitted with a bottom 33, and closed at the top by a Y Centrally of said container is a commodity container 35, formed entirely of metal, and rigidly connected with a bottom at the lower end of the body portion, by means of rivets or similar means. The bottom 36 is identical in shape and size with the bottom 6 of the other form, and said bottoms can be used interchangeably with either form. The bottom 33Y is secured to the bottom 35 by means of a bolt 37, passing through openings in said parts and in a lock-nut 3S, which bolt is held in place by a nut 39, anchoring the container in place. The bottom 36 is also provided with feet 49 as in the other form, and with openings for drainage. The container 35 is also ytted with a cover 4I, similar in shape and size with the bottom 36, and capable of being substituted therefor, except that when used as the bottom part it must be fitted with the feet and drainage openings. It will be observed that the bottom member 36Y is duplicated not only in the cover 4I, but also in the bottom 6, so that any of said parts canl be used interchangeably, by slight adaptations.

The container 35 is also provided with a ring 42 on the outside thereof, adjacent to the lower edge of the cover, and secured to the container by eye-bolts, with which are connected chains 43, passing through openings til in the container 32, and secured in place by pins on the ends of said chains. Connected with the chains 43 are chains 55, extending above the cover 4I, and attached to a ring 46 at a central point, holding said cover from accidental release. This part of the device is provided with a further sealing effect by forming a loop 4i in one of the chains 45 and engaging said loop With one of the chains 43. The end of the loop is fitted with a pin 48, for securing the loop in place. When it is desired to remove the cover 4I the loop 41 is disconnected from the chain, and the chains and* ring 46 moved to one side, lwithout disconnecting any other of the chains.

The ring d2 is preferably formed with a-iiat face against the container, as in Fig. 6, but the ring i 5 is preferably formed with a flat face f against the inner face of the container, as in Figs. l. and 11, with a convex inner'face, which will have a minimum amount of interference with products being placed in the container or removed therefrom.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is;-

l. A shipping package for the purpose named, comprising an outer container, an inner container having a fabric body portion, a dishshaped metal bottom connected detachably with the lower part of the body portion, a ring member connected removably with the upper part of said body portion, means connecting said ring member with the outer container, and means connecting the bottom of the inner container with the bottom of the outer container.

2. A shipping package, comprising an outer container, provided at its lower part with drainage facilities, an inner container having a fabric body portion providedV at its upper end with a series of openings, chains passingV through said openings. a ring within said body portion connected with said chains, means forA connecting said chains with the outer container, releasably, so as to permit the removal of said chains and ring from said body portion, `auxiliary supports iixed to said body portion and connected with said chains, connectingA straps at the lower end of said body portion, a dish-shaped bottom held removably by said straps, provided with openings for drainage, and means for connecting said ROBERT c. BENDER. 

